Kent Wong, Presente!
UAW members across Region 6 mourn the passing of Kent Wong, whose dedication to social and economic justice has long been an inspiration to tens of thousands of workers, students, and community members in California and beyond.
Kent’s work and legacy hold a special place in the hearts of UAW members in California, who have been directly impacted by his passion in countless ways over the years. As the director of the UCLA Labor Center for over 30 years and a professor of labor studies at UCLA, Kent empowered students to not just learn about the history of labor, but to actively participate in building a forward-looking movement for labor and immigrant justice. He modeled that kind of active participation time and time again – showing up in solidarity at union actions and picket lines, convening community trainings on non-violent direct action, advancing programs to support California's undocumented immigrant youth, and so much more.
His vision and clarity about what a fighting, progressive labor movement could look like served not just as an inspiration, but also as a guide to be put into action. And thanks to his tireless work building real relationships in his community, that vision also served as a unifying force across countless union members and leaders throughout California, the United States, and the world.
His lasting impact on the labor movement cannot be overstated, and his legacy will endure for many generations – through his teaching, his commitment to organizing, and the example he set every day. Rest in power!